Good Question: Do Black Bears Have To Be Put Down?

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — There are 10,000 – 15,000 black bears in the state of Minnesota. So it’s no surprise that every once in a while, one of them takes a detour into the cities.

Angie Murad has been keeping up with the male black bear that’s wandered through Savage, Burnsville, Eagan and likely close to her home in Apple Valley.

“I heard they shot the bear and I thought that was so ridiculous that they didn’t tranquilize him,” Murad said.

Like many viewers we’ve heard from, Murad doesn’t like that the bear was shot and wounded by an officer in Savage.

“I just don’t understand why they have to kill the bear,” she said.

Captain Greg Salo of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources says once a black bear gets a taste of what’s in your birdfeeder or in your garbage, they’ll keep coming back because it’s easy access.

“If they aren’t afraid of you, then we start to have problems,” Salo said.